Forrest Lucas, an Indiana oil tycoon and founder of Lucas Oil Products, Inc., recently donated $120,000 to a committee dedicated to opposing Massachusetts Ballot Question 3, according to the finance reports filed last Friday with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Public Finance.
Question 3, if passed, would prevent the sale of eggs, veal and pork from forcefully confined farm animals, according to the initiative petition filed with Attorney General Maura Healey’s office. Citizens Against Food Tax Injustice, which is a committee of agricultural organizations, is the main opponent to Question 3.
Diane Sullivan, the campaign manager of Citizens Against Food Tax Injustice, explained that the committee believes cage-free animals would drive the price of certain foods so high that underprivileged people would be unable to afford eggs and meat.
“I see Question 3 as a social injustice that will cause harm and victimize low and middle income families here in Massachusetts by raising the cost of certain basic foods, and by creating a 250-million-dollar regressive food tax here in the state,” Sullivan said.
Thomas Bean, a Boston lawyer who filed the initiative petition, Question 3, declined to comment on Lucas’ donation to the group opposing his initiative petition.
Many voters are unaware of the economic impacts of Question 3, according to Sullivan.
“Massachusetts voters deserve to know what these unintended consequences of Question 3 are,” Sullivan said. “It doesn’t get into what the economic impact of that would be.”
For this reason, Citizens Against Food Tax Injustice has focused more on spreading information about Question 3 to voters than they have on fundraising.
“Right now I’m spending the majority of my days reaching out to fellow voters through attending community events where the ballot questions are up for discussion,” Sullivan said. “[I’m] certainly taking advantage of any earned media that I can to spread why I’m opposing Question 3.”
Citizens Against Food Tax Injustice currently has minimal funding, working with approximately 20 percent of what its opposition has raised, according to Sullivan. Their financial backing solely came solely from Lucas’s donation.
Sullivan expressed gratitude toward Lucas on behalf of her committee.
“What he’s doing, which I’m incredibly grateful for, is allowing me and helping me to give voice to those who are victims in this type of policy debate,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan also said she respects Lucas’s personal knowledge of both poverty and caring for farm animals.
“Mr. Lucas actually grew up poor on a ranch, so he knows what the struggle is like. He certainly knows how to care for animals,” Sullivan said. “He’s looking long-term at a growing population and the challenge of feeding ourselves, particularly while so many are already struggling to feed themselves.”
YES! on 3 and The Humane Society of the United States could not be reached for comment.
Several Boston residents expressed different views about Question 3 and Lucas’s sizeable donation.
Andre Miller, 32, of Allston, said he supports the passing of Question 3 and doesn’t believe Lucas should have donated so much money to Citizens Against Food Tax Injustice.
“Animal rights are very important to me, and even if it means that we pay a little more for our food, I think it’s worth it,” Miller said.
Magda Aguilar, 69, of Allston, said she would rather see farm animals be treated with less cruelty and pay more for her groceries than save money while animals are subjected to inhumane treatment.
“This is bad,” Aguilar said of the opposition to Question 3. “It’s worth it for the price of eggs to go up if it means that animals get to roam free.”
On the other hand, Jason Friedman, 26, of Brighton, said he supports Lucas’s decision to donate to a cause he believes in, especially if it means making certain foods more affordable.
“I would have to agree with him,” Friedman said. “Otherwise, poor people would not be able to buy their food, and that’s really what’s most important.”